December 24th, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

This Is Our Story

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Come, Lord Jesus. Be born anew in me. Live in my heart. Abide in my life. I await Your coming!

Read Matthew 1:1-17

[1] This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: [2] Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, [3] Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, [4] Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, [5] Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, [6] and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, [7] Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, [8] Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, [9] Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, [10] Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, [11] and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. [12] After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, [13] Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, [14] Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud, [15] Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, [16] and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. [17] Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses … let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus” (Heb. 12:1,2, NRSV).

Think Further

Many people begin reading Matthew at 1:18, because they avoid the list of names. But this is our family tree, our story, the story of God’s faithfulness from creation to new creation–a story in which we have a place, as the promised children of Abraham, through Jesus Christ, the son of Abraham.

Literally, the passage begins with the words “book of genesis of Jesus Christ.” The Creator brings about a new creation through his Messiah. The story up to the time of Christ is told in three episodes: Abraham to David, David to the exile, the exile to Jesus. These reflect the fulfillment of God’s promise, the cost of his people’s unfaithfulness, and the way prepared for his Son. Each episode is described in 14 generations. Fourteen may be twice seven, the perfect number, or the numerical value of the letters spelling David; we cannot be sure. But God’s purposes are being worked out, despite his people’s failures.

The line of descent in Israel’s genealogies was male, but four women are mentioned by name. All were Gentiles, and all were involved in sexually unconventional behavior. This story is for all: neither race, nor gender, nor questionable reputation need exclude anyone from it, once this Gospel has run its course. We may want to skip the lists of names because of the constant repetition of “the father of,” but the repetition has a purpose, which is more obvious if the passage is read aloud rhythmically because the story diverts at the end: Joseph is not “the father of” Jesus–he is “the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus” through the creative act of God. This is God’s new Genesis through which this becomes our story.

Apply

Those who self-select from Scripture miss out on gifts from the Holy Spirit. Allow yourself to be addressed by the full text–not a Scripture lite! Reflect on this genealogy.

Closing prayer

Dear God, I thank You for drawing near to this world in Christ Jesus. What a visit it was, and what a visitor he was. I bow in worship.

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